‘Star Trek’ Retro Recap: ‘The Corbomite Maneuver’

Written by John Edward Betancourt 

There are a lot of things that go into making a television series iconic in the eyes of the fans. But while we could talk all day about those particular elements and how sometimes a little luck helps to create a series that will be beloved by fans until the end of time, I honestly think the true formula to making a classic, lies in simplicity. For it is great characters and great storytelling, the kind that is handled in organic and subtle fashion, that makes a series timeless and magnificent and those two key elements are precisely why I believe Star Trek continues to endure in all of our hearts after all of these years.
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Because it truly offered up incredible stories on a consistent basis, and Kirk and his intrepid crew were dynamic and relatable and served as role models in their own right. But while I know what this series stands for after all these years, I’ve made no secret of the fact that the early days of season one was quite a struggle to go back through as a fan. For some of the episodes present here were off kilter and devoid of the wonder this show is known for. And while I’ve seen flashes of brilliance and familiar moments, I’ve yet to see Trek’s heart on display in this series. But all of that changed when I started the next episode in this storied franchise, since ‘The Corbomite Maneuver’ is clearly the moment when this series finally arrived.

For this is an episode that finally allowed for Kirk and the crew of the Enterprise to let loose personality wise since we saw how they truly handled pressure with the mystery and the threat of the First Federation looming over them. And I really enjoyed the human moments that came about from said pressure since we saw the crew buckle here and there and take a moment to regroup when they realized that their duty to the ship mattered above all else and really, this episode also gave us great insight into how Jim Kirk works and what he stands for since we saw his unique style of captaincy, the one we know and love, on display for the first time here.

In fact, it was just magnificent to see Kirk know exactly how to read people in this episode, and know where his crew’s breaking point was so that he would never cross it, and it was equally as amazing to see him figure out the situation at hand and put together the gambit that saved his ship and his crew. Because the Corbomite card was a magnificent one to play, and seeing it work and see Kirk do it in calm and collected fashion only seemed to embolden the crew and comfort them at the same time and of course, it also led to one of the most memorable moments in the show’s storied history. After all, this is the tale that features a supremely young Clint Howard in the unique role of Balok and his love of Tranya and the deep voiceover of this character truly brought about a sense of wonder, since this whole sequence felt alien and unique.

If anything, this is the first episode that felt like Star Trek since everything the franchise stands for was present here. For the crew of the Enterprise only used their weapons when there was no other alternative, and they worked together, despite their differences, to survive a seemingly impossible problem and of course, they discovered and befriended new life and man, I forgot how good this episode was when all is said and done and I’m glad I did. Because the wonder of this one felt new, and that ending plastered a smile onto my face and now I’m more excited than ever to revisit the rest of season one. Because I won’t lie, I peeked ahead at the episode roster, and what comes next and later this in this season are more iconic moments, meaning that some serious magic Is headed my way and I cannot wait to fall in love with this series all over again in the days and weeks to come. Until next time.   

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